MEL Train derailed by buck-passing and vested interests

[nlagalle]

If I was designing the line, it would be a spur line coming from the Bendigo V-Line track. It would be silly to place a high speed connection from city to AP on a commuter line - too many risks of hold up (as was mentioned by Notzac earlier)

Also @ HVR - rail lines participially underground can be built with rocket speeds now days - just look at the development (continuous) of most Asian cities... Our state Governments choose not to take these options - less backhanders maybe? :shock:

munitalP

Even still, the V/Line joins with the Metro track and has the same bottlenecks in the same places. So there would be no real benefit doing on existing tracks. What they need is dedicated lines for V/Line. on that side that bypass the stations and metro trains entirely.

I agree that underground building is a lot more cost effective now, but you know how good our state government is at spending money.. just look at MyKi and the Regional "fast train" farce!

 

[dajop]

Also @ HVR - rail lines participially underground can be built with rocket speeds now days - just look at the development (continuous) of most Asian cities... Our state Governments choose not to take these options - less backhanders maybe? :shock:

Asian cities are much denser than any Australian city, and therefore rapid development of underground lines is not only economically feasible but brings significant benefits in terms of improving traffic flow. However, one reason they can be built at rocket speeds is probably the availability of cheap labour. Even in the richer economies (such as Singapore) a lot of construction work - including the new underground MRT lines - is accelerated by bringing in cheap temporary labour from India, Bangladesh and China. Never ever going to happen in Australia.

On the broader question of a rail link - I personally think a waste of money.

However it is ever to happen - perhaps the quick and dirty option is best (like SIN, ORD or LHR tube) where they have regular public transport services at regular public transport prices, not at all quick but convenient and cheap enough to put up with the downsides. The other option is the expensive KUL/HKG/LHR express approach where it is more expensive but quick, clean and comfortable with dedicated luggage facilities on dedicated services. Trouble with that I'd imagine tickets would not be cheap at all - using Heathrow Express as example, maybe starting at $25 AUD for MEL-city.

The third options is the Sydney one - expensive AND regular public transport. From a passenger point of view the most abhorrent. It works OK in SYD as the airport is close enough to the CBD, but if you ran a line across to Broadmeadows or even down through Footscray, used regular metro train carriages AND charged a $10-15 premium over regular train ticket prices - that would not be terribly appealing.

 

[oz_mark]

Consider also, if there was a rail link, a high probability would be it would be underground. Very little chance of accidents.

But they do break down in tunnels making the passengers have to walk out (Metro Melbourne trains break down and passengers forced to walk)

 

[munitalP]

Yep, can't argue with that, lol

 

[JeniSkunk]

The third options is the Sydney one - expensive AND regular public transport. From a passenger point of view the most abhorrent. It works OK in SYD as the airport is close enough to the CBD, but if you ran a line across to Broadmeadows or even down through Footscray, used regular metro train carriages AND charged a $10-15 premium over regular train ticket prices - that would not be terribly appealing.

That third option is called Airtrain here in Brisbane.
A private operator set up a private rail link as a spur line starting between Eagle Junction and Toombul; to BNE, and managed to con the Qld government into letting that private mob use its own fare structure on the private rail link and rope in trains from the suburban rail network for running on its private rail link.
And thanks to that contract, the SEQ regional transport system, Translink can't touch that private rail operator despite the ripoff prices being public knowledge.

Jenifur Charne